If the Lord wills...

I hope and trust that everyone had a great Christmas. I want to encourage you to take some time to enjoy this time of year, but I also know that a new year quickly approaches.

This is also the time of year for new year’s resolutions, vision casting, making goals, etc. All those things can be very beneficial, but let me also give this warning from the book of James.

James 4:13-17 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Sadly, I read where a woman claiming to be a believer told a family who’s daughter was sick, that the sickness would leave immediately. This woman claimed the power of God and by her command, the sickness would leave. No mention of the will of God, but rather what she was claiming and casting out. When the daughter died, I wonder what the family thought of God and of this woman. What arrogance on her part! The Bible is not against planning or praying, in fact, the Bible is very much for both of these. We must remember at all times though, that we are living for the glory of God and His will. Not ours.

With that being said, Lord willing, here is what I believe God is calling our church to do this year.(Friday we may discuss some of the steps to accomplish these goals).

A deeper focus on small groups

This includes Sunday school, Discipleship training, Bible studies, men and women’s group, etc.

We want to create a culture of living for Jesus together through relationships.

Making Disciples at home and around the world.

We want to create a culture of sharing the gospel. How can we turn every conversation into one that shares the gospel?

Mission Conway: How can we reach our neighborhood? Our city?

Toronto Church plant and beyond

Prayer, lots of prayer.

We want to create a culture where our church house is a house of prayer.

Reminders:

A special thank you to the Choir for leading us in worship this past Sunday. We are so thankful for our special program leaders and those that participated.

We will not have night services this Sunday.

January 22nd we are hosting the Associational meeting. Matt Hess, Toronto Church Planter, will be here to speak to the association. Matt is also bringing his mission coordinator, Scott Ridenour

January 24th Matt Hess will be with us to meet just our church and spend time with us. Come and learn more about our partnership with Matt to reach the world for Christ.

June 24th- 30th we are going to Toronto for a mission trip.

Be in prayer as to how God can use us to reach Conway and the surrounding areas for Christ this year.

Big Question: With the new year beginning, is there a book of the bible that you would like for me to go through as part of our Monday, Wednesday, and Friday email devotional? Are there any changes that you would like to see made to make the email/devotional better?